Finally received tour guide license

Posted on January 1, 2010 by nandan

I finally received my tour guide license on the 30th, marking the end of a three-year wait. I had initially applied for it in 2006. I began preparing for the entrance exam shortly after my application, but had to halt my preparations when the Tour Guide Association of India sued the Indian government over the licensing process. The association was resistant to new entrants, fearing that their established positions were at risk. Many of the existing guides had obtained their licenses when the process was simpler, and now that the requirements were stricter, the association was obstructing the changes to protect their interests.

My brother Chandan, who works as an escort, shared a humorous anecdote with me. On his last visit to Benares, he hired a government-approved tour guide for a morning boat ride. The guide spoke at length about Benares, Hinduism, and the Ganges River, emphasizing that the Ganges is revered as a mother by Hindus. However, shortly after his talk, the guide began chewing betel and spat it out into the Ganges in front of his clients. This understandably upset the clients, who questioned whether Hindus spit on their mother. The guide had no response, which reflects the kind of professionalism that should be avoided. I hope that the training I received will prevent such unprofessional behavior.

The certificate

The tour guide training program faced numerous delays due to ongoing legal battles between the Tour Guide Association of India and the government. The association initially sued as soon as the application forms were released, causing several months of delays. After the government managed to resolve the first legal issue, they conducted the entrance exam, only for the association to sue again, leading to further delays as the case was heard in the Delhi High Court. Ultimately, the government won, and the High Court directed them to resume the training program, which finally started in August 2009 after a three-year delay.

Sana and I at convocation hall

The training was conducted at IITTM in Gwalior and lasted for 16 weeks—6 weeks of classroom instruction and 10 weeks of fieldwork. The curriculum included over 75 lectures, and I wrote a research paper focusing on the cultural diversity of Benares. The program concluded with a written exam and an interview, both of which I successfully passed. I received my certificate and now need to visit the India Tourism office in Delhi with a police verification certificate to obtain a provisional license, which will be valid for two months. After this period, I should receive my permanent license (red card). I hope there will be no further issues in Delhi.

Happy moment

152 thoughts on “Finally received tour guide license”

nandan on April 7, 2011 at 2:52 am said:

Dilip Ji,

Its very sad that people like you have to suffer for license. I also agree with you that escorts can also work as good as any other LICENSED tour guide. In fact, I think that escorts are much better than tour guides because they have a lot of experience. Keep trying and best of luck!
nandan on April 7, 2011 at 2:53 am said:

Rohit,

The process is same for everyone. Please read the whole post and go through all the comments.
nandan on April 7, 2011 at 2:56 am said:

Chandan Ji,

I don’t know where you are based so cant really suggest you anything but I have heard that embassy’s cultural centers are the best places to learn any foreign language. Why don’t you try Russian Embassy’s cultural center in New Delhi?
nandan on May 9, 2011 at 4:33 am said:

Sanjay Ji,

Please say PLEASE one more time and maybe I will be able to help you getting the license:)
lalit purohit on June 22, 2011 at 8:52 pm said:

dear,
how i can apply to northen india licence
nandan on June 23, 2011 at 3:02 pm said:

Dear Lalit Ji,

Just read this whole post and go through other comments and you will get answer of all of your questions as procedure is same for everyone.

Thanks,
Martin Joseph on July 20, 2011 at 11:34 am said:

I’m working as a french translator in Pondicherry. Can i get guide license.?
nandan on July 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm said:

Mr. Martin,

Process is same for everyone. Do you have Indian citizenship? If not, then you can’t get the license.
navin on September 21, 2011 at 3:06 pm said:

When tour guide licence form are coming? is there any chance in 2011?. When did they last came? reply me soon.
manish modaliyar on December 20, 2011 at 9:28 pm said:

my name is manish modaliyar i live varanasi in india near bank of the river i would like to talk western people and try to ex plane about my city but i have always problem with police i want something that they will not give problem to me because i always meet western and i have to many friends in Europe i want some advice about that please help me………………..
nandan on December 29, 2011 at 12:05 pm said:

Manish,

I don’t really think that the Police can stop you by talking with foreigners. There are restrictions at ASI monuments but if you are somewhere else then there should not be any problem. Anyways, I also remember when I did not have the license and how I was worried about the Police all the time. Try to get tourist guide license and all of your problems will be solved.
Mohit Narang on January 4, 2012 at 4:26 am said:

Dear Sir,

Please advice me how can i become a tour guide ?
At present i am with a travel company in Delhi & working as an sales executive (Inbound Tours) and have little experience of escorting..
Age:: 23
Qualification:: BTM
nandan on January 4, 2012 at 12:48 pm said:

Mohit,

There is only one way to get the license- attend the training program. Just wait for the training program to start again next time.
karan on January 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm said:

please tell me about how we know when the forms for guide licence will open?
nandan on January 7, 2012 at 10:13 am said:

Karan,

Procedure is same for everyone so please just read the whole post and I don’t have any idea about when the license will be issued next time.
Thanks,
Narender on February 5, 2012 at 8:01 pm said:

Good experience , i am also waiting for spanish guide licence but still working last 11 years . now i think i need licence because situation are changed in last 3 & 4 years . good luck to you .
nandan on February 6, 2012 at 5:37 pm said:

Thanks!
rableen on February 26, 2012 at 7:43 pm said:

how i can get a form for exam to become a guide/escort…actuly i m pursuing my bsc in avation,tourism&hospitality..and i dnt have any knowlegde about…..diz…so plz if u can help…..plz mail me realted information
nandan on March 17, 2012 at 10:56 am said:

Rableen,

Keep checking the newspapers and India tourism website.
Momd.Ahsan on March 27, 2012 at 1:50 am said:

Hi
Bro plz can u give me a advice i m Allrediy a tour guied in jaipur but onliy for jaighr fort since last 8 years now i neeed a licens for nort india i can speek spenish lengueg also almost i work with of spenish pepols plz tell me how can i get the north india license
thanks
kabeer
nandan on April 15, 2012 at 11:37 am said:

Mr. Kabeer,

Just wait for the right time. I don’t know when the training will be organized next time. Procedure is same for everyone.
Shyam Prasad on July 13, 2012 at 8:27 am said:

Hi,
Congratulations for your Achievement.

Can u guide me for same?,
how can i get the licence of tour guide?
Send me some Link related tour guide licence information
sushant Johnson on August 22, 2012 at 2:34 am said:

Bro m sushant i live at Varanasi. Bro i love guiding trade but don’t know anything ant it m perusing my b.com 3rd year and want to become a guide.
i want to know that what eligibility i would be needing to become a guide
and when, where and how to apply for guiding license bec now m ready to make guiding my profession and passion plz sujjest me 🙂
nandan on August 23, 2012 at 6:10 pm said:

Dear Susbhant,

The process is same for everyone and I have already explained it several times on this blog. Please go through other comments on this and other tourist guide license related posts on this blog and you will get your answer. For more information please visit India Tourism website.

Thanks,
mansur khan on September 12, 2012 at 3:25 pm said:

Dear Sir,

I am good in english but little confuse what another foreign language should u go for ………tell me whats will be the scope for spanish and portuguese ……….

thanks

Mansur
Nitish on November 9, 2012 at 9:22 am said:

Dear Nandan Boss,
First of all i would like to congratulate you for your achievement..
Actually i need of your help.. Actually i want to be an escort bt i don’t know exactly that from where could i get the certificate or how could i be an escort..
I belong to western part of rajasthan and i know the langueges like Hindi, English and Spanish as well.. and i am really keen to give my services for that perticular..
I had done MBA and presently i am doing Post Graduation Diploma in Tourism and Hotel Management..
Plz. do me this favor and guide me to get my ultimate destination..

Thanks and Regards..
mamta on December 4, 2012 at 9:10 pm said:

hi… congrats 4 ur this achievement….. i read others comments too 4 guiding…. dera.. may be u cud suggest. u said process same…???? myself done..m.a (eng) but learning lan..dear cud u plz guide….how….. to be tourist guide. IITTM is n gwalior… and as far as its concern to tat course, that conduct only in gwali….is it so….?? if not thn how i apply 4 this???/ is it lucrative profession…

i donot have idea… plz share ur views…. grateful
Harsh dana on December 9, 2012 at 12:56 am said:

I m studend of m.b.a also working as a tour guide in mount abu rajasthan since last 5 year nw i need a lisence ……help me i need advice
RAJESH KUMAR MANDAWARIA on December 24, 2012 at 3:07 pm said:

Sir iam a SC candidet and i passd this exam by 70% mark jab ki sc candidet ke liye to sirf 43% marks hi jaroori hai ,
this exam me mujhe janeral me dal diya gaya hai aur mujhe fail kar diya gaya hai mai kya kroo. pl. help me
BALBIR on April 24, 2013 at 5:24 pm said:

IN EVERY COUNTRY RULES APPLY. THE SAME RULES APPLY TO EVERY PERSON. TO BE A REGIONAL LEVEL GUIDE MINIMUM GRADUATION IS REQUIRED. SPEAKING ABILITY AND I WILL REPEAT AGAIN THE ABILITY TO SPEAK IS IMPORTANT. POLICE VERIFICATION IS PROOF OF IDENTITY. A GUIDE WHO IS VERIFIED AS A GUIDE IS A GUIDE OTHER WISE HE/SHE IS LAPKA!!
karni singh on May 7, 2013 at 7:42 am said:

Dear sir

I am working as a tour guide in udaipur
I just want to know what type of question they as in guide entrance paper by iittm I know the syllabus but little confuse

Thanks
Karni
karan rathi on July 3, 2013 at 2:09 am said:

Hi sanjay, i am really happy that you get your license and ready to show your spark to these old people, now the guide license forms are open can you suggest me some reading material so we also can have a confidence like you. Friend we have very short time for our exam please suggest me ASAP. thank you and best of luck for your future.
jitendra sharma on August 17, 2013 at 11:58 am said:

dear sir,I m from panna near Khajuraho. I want to be a tour guide. I dont have any experience in it but have good scence of humor, can write poems one act plays,keep good knowlegde of places and history. how can I get the license. and if I start it without license then what problems can be occurred. please please answer my question.
Lav Kumar on November 18, 2013 at 11:17 am said:

Hi Nandan,

This is a very nice blog. Thanks for bringing it up.

I would like to know what is the fees for RLGTP course at IITTM ??

I checked the website but details about the fees are not mentioned anywhere or may be I couldn’t find. Please let me know how much you paid for this course for me to have an idea.

Thanks and Regards,
Lav Kumar
nandan on November 23, 2013 at 10:24 am said:

Namaste Lav,

When I took training the fee was around 10,000 but this year its 25,000.

Thanks,
vivek mudgal on July 27, 2014 at 5:52 pm said:

Sir
I am having class Portuguese. I wanna be escort. basiscally I am from udaipur. can u give how to get escort license. what is processor.
tanay on August 1, 2014 at 10:01 am said:

hi sir, can i eligible for red card north regional bcz i belong to odissa who is situated to east regional.can i fill for red card exam other regional. plz help me?
Bridgit on December 15, 2014 at 7:43 am said:

I am working as an escort Italian tour guide since 2006 onwards, but I have no licence , Is there any chance for me to get it from Ernakulam?
devendra baghel on January 11, 2015 at 6:21 am said:

DEAR SIR,

i am a graduate student for science field. i will want make tourist guide so sir please help me what i am do now. what do study now for tourist guide?
can you see me way..?
NADEEM RAYEEN on October 22, 2015 at 8:09 am said:

I AM INTERESTED IN TOUR GAIDE LICENCES I WL PROVIDED PLZ SAJES ME
NADEEM RAYEEN on October 22, 2015 at 8:11 am said:

MUJE GUIDE KA LICENCE BANWANA H OR MUJE ESCORTS KA EXP. H
Sunil on December 7, 2015 at 6:19 pm said:

How can get tour guide license, I’m from pushkar city Rajasthan any information about licence?
Avvi on January 24, 2016 at 4:06 am said:

This year you all of have chance to get red license. Apply fast. And i also know russian language. Mr. Chandan singh shekhawat you can learn russian langyage from russian culture and science centre from new delhi firozshah road 24
siva on February 16, 2016 at 3:50 am said:

iam japanese speaking gudie only tamilnadu.. i want southindian licence so what process my friend pls tell me.help me.
marty on March 2, 2016 at 9:42 am said:

when contact guide exam plse3ase inform me any one .
jain on March 5, 2016 at 8:11 pm said:

Nice information sir
I am also applied for RLTGP 2016 bt i need to a little help. i have no information which type questions can comes in entrance paper
please suggest any books or prvides Question paper form

Jainprasad007@gmail.com
9125337798
jain on March 5, 2016 at 8:15 pm said:

please sir
J KHAN on April 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm said:

Dear Sir,

if you can then plz provide previous year RLGTP Paper

Thanks

J KHAN
J KHAN on April 7, 2016 at 5:34 pm said:

Dear Sir,

it will kind of you

if you can manage to provide previous year
RLGTP paper for us,

Jhanks and Regards

j khan
L.Rajendra Prasad on July 2, 2016 at 11:48 am said:

My Name is L. Rajendra Prasad,a MTM candidate and i passed and also get the offer letter in the year 2011. shall i join now with the same letterwithou writingthe exam again.

i also have state Level Guide Liecience from Telangana Tourism, Hyderabad

Pragyabodh

Media, Research, Journalism, Tourism, Anthropology, Philosophy

Finally received tour guide license

152 thoughts on “Finally received tour guide license”

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